Floribunda rose plant named &#39;Meipojona&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Floribunda rose plant is provided that originated as a branch sport of the ‘Meipomolo’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,342). Unlike the ‘Meipomolo’ variety, the new variety forms golden-yellow blossoms instead of yellow-orange blossoms. The attractive blossoms are formed on a nearly continuous basis. The growth habit is vigorous and bushy. The semi-glossy foliage is dense dark green and of good substance and contrasts nicely with the golden-yellow blossom coloration. Very good tolerance to Black Spot and Oidium is displayed under normal growing conditions. The plant is well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in parks and gardens.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Rosa hybrida/Floribunda Rose Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. ‘Meipojona’

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A single plant of the new variety was discovered as a branch sport at LeCannet—Des—Maures, Le Luc, France, while growing in rose fields amongplants of the ‘Meipomolo’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,342). Themutation was of unknown causation. I was attracted to the plantprimarily because of its distinctive flower coloration. Subsequently theplant has undergone detailed observation and study. Had I not discoveredand preserved the new plant it would have been lost to mankind.

It was found that the new variety of Floribunda rose plant of thepresent invention possesses the following combination ofcharacteristics:

(a) forms on a nearly continuous basis attractive bright golden-yellowblossoms,

(b) exhibits a vigorous and bushy growth habit,

(c) forms decorative dense dark green semi-glossy foliage of goodsubstance,

(d) displays good tolerance to Oidium and Black Spot, and

(e) is well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in parks andgardens.

The golden-yellow blossom coloration is luminous in character andcontrasts nicely with the dark green foliage. The plant is well suitedfor growing in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone No. 6.

The new variety of the present invention can be readily distinguishedfrom its ‘Meipomolo’ ancestor. More specifically, the blossoms of the‘Meipomolo’ variety are yellow-orange unlike the golden-yellowcoloration of the new variety.

The new variety of the present invention also can be readilydistinguished from other similar Floribunda rose varieties, such as the‘Meibeausai’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,667) and ‘Meimonblan’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 12,579) varieties. Each forms blossoms having a differentcoloration. The ‘Meibeausai’ variety forms white blossoms and the‘Meimonblan’ variety forms darker tangerine orange blossoms.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andis particularly well suited for enhancing the appearance of thelandscape. It can be grown in a hedge or mass planting.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in theSouth of France and at Wasco, Calif., U.S.A., by a number of routes,including budding, grafting, and cuttage. Asexual propagation by theabove-mentioned techniques at these locations has shown that thecharacteristics of the new variety are stable and are strictlytransmissible by such asexual propagation from one generation toanother.

The new variety has been named the ‘Meipojona’, and will be marketedunder the TEQUILA GOLD trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustrations of this character,typical specimens of the new variety. The rose plants of the new varietywere two years of age and were observed during June while budded on Rosafroebelli understock and growing outdoors near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.

FIG. 1 illustrates the typical golden yellow blossoms and foliage of thenew variety.

FIG. 2 illustrates a typical flowering plant of the new variety. Thevigorous bushy growth habit is shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based onthe observation of two year-old plants during June while budded on Rosafroebelli understock and growing outdoors near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.Reference to color in common terms is to be accorded its ordinarydictionary significance.

-   Class: Floribunda.-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—approximately 80 to 90 cm on average at the end of            the growing season.        -   Width.—approximately 80 to 90 cm on average at the end of            the growing season.        -   Habit.—bushy.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—young stems: near Green Group 137A. — adult wood:            near Green Group 137B.        -   Thorns.—configuration: rather upright, longish-pointed on            the upper surface and concave on the under surface. — on            young stems: over a length of 18 cm. approximately 5 on            average long prickles having lengths over 5 mm that are near            Greyed-Purple Group 185D in coloration at the base and near            Yellow-Green Group 151D towards the tip. — on adult stems:            over a length of 19 cm approximately 8 on average long            prickles having lengths over 5 mm that are near            Greyed-Orange Group 166A in coloration.-   Leaves:    -   -   Stipules.—adnate, pectinate, approximately 2.5 cm in length,            approximately 0.8 cm in width, smooth on the upper surface,            tomentose on the under surface, and near Green Group 137C in            coloration.        -   Petioles.—upper surface: rather glandular, and near Green            Group 136B in coloration. — under surface: tomentose, and            near Green Group 137B and 137C in coloration. — length:            approximately 1 to 2 cm on average.        -   Rachis.—upper surface: rather glandular. — under surface:            tomentose.        -   Size.—a five-leaflet leaf including the petiole commonly is            approximately 11 cm in length on average and approximately            10.5 cm in width on average.        -   Leaflets.—number: 3, 5 (most often), and 7. — shape:            elliptic with a pointed tip and an obtuse base. — size:            terminal leaflets commonly are approximately 7 cm in length            on average and approximately 3.5 to 4 cm in width on            average. — serration: fine and regular (as illustrated). —            texture: smooth, semi-glossy, and of good substance. —            general appearance: very dense, dark green, and semi-glossy.            — color (young foliage): upper surface: dark green, near            Green Group 136A with some anthocyanin coloration of near            Greyed-Red Group 178A. under surface: dark green, near Green            Group 137A and suffused with some red anthocyanin            coloration. — color (adult foliage): upper surface: dark            green, near Green Group 136A. under surface: dark green,            near Green Group 137A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—commonly in clusters of 2 to 5 flowers            per stem.        -   Peduncle.—possesses good strength, rigid, very slightly            glandular, approximately 2 to 2.5 cm in length on average,            and near Green Group 138A in coloration.        -   Sepals.—upper surface: tomentose and near Yellow-Green Group            148B and 148C in coloration. — under surface: smooth, and            near Green Group 137B, 137C, and 137D in coloration. Some            small extensions are present. — size: approximately 3 cm in            length on average, and approximately 0.9 cm in width at the            widest point on average.        -   Buds.—shape: conical. — size: medium. — length:            approximately 1.5 cm on average. — color upper surface: near            Yellow Group 9A and lightly suffused on the first petal            whorls with Orange-Red Group 35A as the calyx breaks. —            color under surface: near Yellow Group and widely suffused            with Orange-Red Group 35A as the calyx breaks. — spot at            base: none observed.        -   Flower.—blooming habit: commonly blooms in clusters from May            to November on a substantially continuous basis. — shape:            cup-shaped. — diameter: approximately 7 to 9 cm on average            when fully open. — color (when blooming): upper surface:            bright golden yellow near Yellow Group 6C. under surface:            near Yellow Group 6D and lightly suffused with Orange-Red            Group 35C. — spot at base: none observed. — color stability:            some fading with advancing maturity. — petal number:            approximately 29 on average under normal growing conditions.            — petal arrangement: imbricated. — petal configuration:            reflexed tip and an obtuse base. — petal shape: generally            oval. — petal size: approximately 3.5 cm in length on            average, and approximately 3 cm in width on average. — petal            texture: smooth. — petal margin: wavy and somewhat reflexed            (as illustrated). — petaloids: very few located at the            center, commonly approximately 6 in number on average,            generally oval in shape, on the upper surface near Yellow            Group 6C and slightly suffused with Orange-Red Group 35A,            and on the under surface near Yellow Group 6D and widely            suffused with some orange-red coloration. — stamen:            approximately 110 on average. anthers: regularly disposed            around the styles, approximately 0.2 cm in size on average,            and near Greyed-Orange Group 177A in coloration. —            filaments: approximately 0.4 cm in length on average, and            near Greyed-Orange Group 165B in coloration. — pistils:            approximately 50 on average. — styles: approximately 0.2 cm            in length on average, and near Yellow-Green Group 149C in            coloration. — stigmas: approximately 0.1 cm in size on            average, and near Yellow Group 13B in coloration. —            fragrance: none. — lastingness: approximately 15 days on the            plant in a garden setting. — petal drop: the petals commonly            detach cleanly before drying. — receptacle: smooth, near            Green Group 137B suffused with some red anthocyanin            coloration, commonly approximately 0.6 to 0.8 cm in length            and approximately 0.6 to 0.8 cm in width on average, and in            longitudinal section in the shape of a pitcher. — seeds:            ovoid in shape, rough in texture, and approximately 0.5 cm            in length.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—very strong.        -   Blooming.—nearly continuous.        -   Tolerance to diseases.—very good with respect to Oidium and            Black Spot under normal growing conditions.        -   Tolerance to heat and cold.—good general resistance.        -   Aptitude to bear fruit.—medium.

1 . A new and distinct Floribunda rose plant having the followingcombination of characteristics: (a) forms on a nearly continuous basisattractive bright golden-yellow blossoms. (b) exhibits a vigorous andbushy growth habit, (c) forms decorative dense dark semi-glossy foliageof good substance, (d) displays good tolerance to Oidium and Black Spot,and (e) is well suited for growing as ornamentation in parks andgardens; substantially as illustrated and described.